-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Four members of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah have been indicted in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri , a high-placed source in the Lebanese Army confirmed on Thursday .

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon issued the indictments , and a U.N. source familiar with the body said the people include alleged perpetrators on the ground .

Multiple sources in the region said they include Mustafa Badreddine .

Badreddine -- who is the brother-in-law of Imad Mughniyeh , a former Hezbollah commander who was assassinated in Syria in 2008 -- is reported to be a member of Hezbollah 's advisory council . The other names on the list are Hasan Oneisa , Salim Ayyah and Asad Sabra .

Two additional lists of indictments are expected later this summer and are expected to include the organizers and planners of the attack , the U.N. source said . The United Nations and the Lebanese Republic negotiated an agreement on the establishment of the tribunal , based at The Hague .

Many Lebanese believe the killing revolved around the controversies over Syria 's role in Lebanon , occupied at the time by Syrian troops , and the Damascus government 's strong political influence in Lebanon .

People believe Hariri wanted the Syrians to withdraw from Lebanon and lessen Syria 's influence , and many suspect that Syria and its ally Hezbollah went after Hariri because of his stance on this issue .

Those suspected connections of Hezbollah and the Syrian government to the killing have raised tensions in the country , stoking fears of sectarian conflict erupting in the ethnically and religiously diverse nation , which endured a civil war from 1975 to 1990 .

Besides being prime minister of Lebanon for 10 years between 1992 and 2004 , Rafik Hariri was the driving force behind Beirut 's renaissance as a Mediterranean jewel , investing in the restoration of a city center that not so long before had been the frontline in Lebanon 's civil war .

Rafik Hariri was 60 when he was killed , a self-made Sunni billionaire of humble origins . His son Saad , 40 , leads a political bloc known as `` March 14 , '' which includes prominent Christian leaders . The group 's adversaries include Hezbollah and other factions .

Syria had thousands of troops in Lebanon and great influence in the country until mass protests after Hariri 's assassination forced their withdrawal . Syria has denied any involvement in the assassination .

But six years later , the shadow cast by that day still hangs over Lebanon , which finds itself in a political crisis -- in part caused by the bitter divide over the country 's special tribunal that is tasked with investigating Hariri 's assassination .

Hezbollah is a political faction in Lebanon and provides social services to Shiites , but it has long been regarded as a terrorist organization by the United States and as an ally of Iran . It has had longstanding animosity toward the tribunal , based on the expectation that some of its members would be indicted as conspirators in Hariri 's assassination .

The Hezbollah leader , Hassan Nasrallah , has accused the group 's arch-enemy Israel of the assassination . The movement , which fought a war on Lebanese soil against Israel five years ago , claims the tribunal is a plot involving the United States , Israel and France . Ibrahim Mousawi , a Hezbollah media relations officer , said it had no immediate reaction to the indictments .

Rafik Hariri and 22 others were killed on February 14 , 2005 , when a bomb went off as his motorcade passed by . Saad Hariri , Rafik Hariri 's son and a former Lebanese prime minister , said on Thursday the indictments were issued after years `` of patience and waiting and a constant national struggle . ''

Saad Hariri called on all factions to accept Lebanon 's `` obligations '' to the tribunal and said on Thursday `` there is no excuse for anyone to escape from this responsibility . ''

`` Today , we witness a distinctive historic moment in the life of Lebanon 's political , judicial security , and ethical systems . And I feel in the beat of my heart , the embrace of all the hearts of the Lebanese who defended the cause of justice and refused to bargain on the blood of the martyrs , '' Saad Hariri said in a statement .

Earlier this year , Hezbollah brought down Saad Hariri 's government . His replacement is Prime Minister Najib Mikati , a Sunni political independent who was backed by Hezbollah and its allies .

Nasrallah said in January that Hezbollah nominated Mikati to form `` a national salvation government in which parties from across the political spectrum would take part . '' He disputed the view that Mikati is a Hezbollah figure . He said Mikati is a consensus candidate and `` we will not lead the new government and it will not be the government of Hezbollah . ''

Speaking on TV on Friday , Mikati said the `` delicate situation '' Lebanon is experiencing `` requires us to be wise '' and avert civil strife . He stressed that the `` indictments -- no matter what their source is -- are not sentences , and that charges need to have compelling evidence , away from any doubt , and that everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty . ''

The U.N.-backed court said the indictment and accompanying arrest warrants `` were transmitted to the Lebanese authorities '' on Thursday . It said the announcement `` follows a declaration by the Lebanese authorities that they have received a confirmed indictment . ''

`` This is not a verdict of guilt and any accused person is presumed innocent unless his or her guilt is established at trial , '' the Special Tribunal said in a statement .

`` At this time , the STL has no comment on the identity or identities of the person or persons named in the indictment . Indeed , Judge -LRB- Daniel -RRB- Fransen has ruled that the indictment shall remain confidential in order to assist the Lebanese authorities in fulfilling their obligations to arrest the accused . ''

The tribunal says arrest warrants have been submitted to the Lebanese authorities , and that they must inform the tribunal president `` within 30 days after the confirmation of the indictment of the measures the state has taken to arrest the person -LRB- s -RRB- named in the indictment . ''

CNN 's Jenifer Fenton contributed to this report

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NEW : Four Hezbollah members are indicted in Hariri killing

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They include alleged perpetrators on the ground , source says

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Indictments for organizations and planners are expected later in the summer

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Hariri and 22 others were killed in 2005 when a bomb targeted his motorcade